THE WESTERN HERAULT REGION
THE WESTERN HÉRAULT
Following demand and previous publication in a magazine specializing in property in France we thought the following would be useful.
With its climate and location as well as five distinct areas, all within easy travelling time by car, and good public transport and infrastructure links, the Western Herault matched our needs as a place to live and work. The region is in our view split into 5 distinct areas.
THE COASTAL PLAIN. The pretty fishing ports of Mèze and Marseillan on the 'Bassin de Thau', famous for oysters and shellfish. Along the coast is Cap D'Agde, a modern development having a fabulous variety of yachts, leisure facilities and restaurants. Further west is Valras Plage, popular for family holidays due to its sandy beaches, and active year round fishing port. These are interspersed with long sandy beaches, some villages and lots of campsites for summer visitors. If you visit the beach in the early morning normally, you will have an unforgetable view to the south and west of the Pyrennees mountain range, some 60 miles away. To the south after Valras and Vendres is more wild with the delta of the Aude river, as far as the National Park of La Clape, a hilly area sheltering some small coastal towns of Narbonne Plage, St Pierre, etc
BEZIERS AND PEZENAS. Beziers is the major town of the region. Its weekly flower market takes place on Fridays. This ancient town, first founded by Greeks, has many quaint narrow streets with cafes, restaurants situated in quiet squares and courtyards as well as a large variety of individual shops and a covered food market. It also has its major festivals throughout the year, in particular one of the largest street parties in the south of France, for 5 days in Mid August, based on Spanish and Occitan culture. Its sad history, being attacked first in the Albigensian crusades/Cathar history is well documented. Situated inland also is Pézenas, popular with tourists due to its old quarter, the past association with Molière and its Saturday market and antique shops.
THE ‘ARRIERE PAYS’ Between the mountains and the plain are undulating hills covered in vineyards, dotted with chateaux and perched villages, such as Corneilhan, Magalas, Murviel and Margon. Visitors describe this area as more beautiful than parts of Italy famous for the wine trade. Needless to say we agree. With wines such as St Chinian, Faugéres and Minervois Appellations it's not just looks alone that are attractive.
THE CANAL DU MIDI The Canal du Midi arrives at Agde on the Mediterranean, having crossed France from the Atlantic coast. It straddles the boundary of the Hérault and Aude in the flat plain carved over the years by the Aude and its tributaries and gives home to the wine region known as the Minervois. Above this, for those who have visited Minerve, a delightful village perched on a contour in the limestone crags formed by the river that passes underneath it, they will never forget the experience. The Canal itself is world famous and extremely popular for its boat hire and bike rides, and the many stopping places such as Capestang. Also popular is the Béziers Marina. Visitors can climb the steep streets to the cathedral of St Nazaire in Beziers taking in the panorama of the Orb river valley. Or the 'Neuf Ecluses' the nine locks, a popular site in summer.
THE LANGUEDOC NATIONAL PARK 40 to 45 minutes drive north of Beziers is the first hill range, called Les Monts des Espinouse, featuring in particular le Gorge d’Heric, a popular walking spot with pools for bathing to the side of the pathway. We are fortunate in having a climate protected by these and the Black Mountains, part of the Haut Languedoc range. They provide a spectacular backdrop. The spa town of Lamalou-les-Bains is popular, with its casino and golf course yet only 50 minutes drive from the coast. Also are the market towns of Bédarieux and Herepian, and to the east St Pons, famous for its leather coats and goods, and its autumn chestnut festival.
This part of the Hérault still remains probably one of the cheapest places to purchase property on the Mediterranean coast of France. However properties and land prices have risen significantly over the years and with the infrastructure investments, such as the new motorway A75, arriving at Béziers from Paris in 2010, rises over the longer term look set to continue. The new TGV line to Barcelona will be complete as currently planned for 2019, yet Paris is just 4 hours now by TGV from Beziers.
It isn't difficult to see why the French see the department as the place most would like to move to. The population grows annually, by more than 10,000 a year. This reflects in local property prices.
